Roland Sands won a real functional biker build off, this is great!
Let me quote The Kneeslider from one year ago:
The quick way to raise the bar on these build offs would be to create a competition at the end that had a drag strip and road course as the first step. Horsepower and engineering would enter into it, you know, could they build real motorcycles? How fast does it stop? That I’d like to see. … Discovery Channel, are you listening?
Well, someone was listening, because the Discovery Channel just pre released the results of the 2006 Biker Build Off and Roland Sands won with his “No Regrets” V-twin custom. The final competition had Sands compete against Jesse Rooke in a three race match, a road race, a flat track and a drag race. There are a couple of photos on Sands’ website showing him putting No Regrets through its paces wearing race leathers and full face helmet, when’s the last time you saw a chopper rider needing those?
Roland Sands used a 150hp Kendall Johnson built Harley Davidson V-twin and Rooke used a KTM 950 for power, both engine variations seem to be favorite choices in the “accessible power” world we’ve been pushing around here.
Finally, a competition for motorcycles instead of curbside ornaments. Congratulations Discovery Channel for moving in this direction and above all, congratulations to Roland Sands for building custom bikes that not only look great but actually function as kick butt motorcycles. Roland Sands has been building functional bikes for quite a while now and this may finally turn the tide in the custom bike building world.
It will be very interesting to see how the rest of the bike builders respond to this change of direction. We may see some drop by the wayside as they find themselves unable to build something that works and there may be a rise of a whole new breed of bike builder, individuals that have taken the time to learn about motorcycle dynamics. I know to most of us around here, this is refreshing, I’m just all smiles!
Images: Roland Sands Design
Link: Roland Sands Design
The Kneeslider: Roland Sands RenStar and RSD Grunt
The Kneeslider: Tony Foale Seminar at Mid Ohio – in case you want to brush up on motorcycle dynamics now
C. J. Luke, III says
ALL RIGHT!!!
Let’s hope this brings more of the same.
Scott Johnson says
I have noticed that many of the metric cruisers from the big guys are starting to have “sporty” options…often with inverted forks and better tires. This type of bike is certainly leading that trend, and with major manufacturer support, it’s certainly not going away.
todd says
I don’t know. I mean I like this direction far better than choppers but how many people who like choppers will want to cruise one of these around to the local bar? I think these sport customs are attracting the younger, sportier crowd but there will always be imbecile choppers coming out of any shop that has welding equipment. This bike doesn’t look any more rideable or comfortable than the typical stretched custom. At least it should go around corners a bit quicker and actually stop.
-todd
dave says
OH NO!!!
SPORT CUSTOMS!?!
hehe! It’s about time these bikes get some play in the world of ‘chopper television’ Very cool, that they are making the builders actually do something with them. I mean, c’mon… supposedly riding that 10ft long chopper to a bike event? Most of the off-camera time spent in a trailer…
Good job Sands….
hoyt says
todd – “This bike doesn’t look any more rideable or comfortable than the typical stretched custom”….
I have to disagree. What is not rideable about this (beside the loud pipe that can easily be changed) ? The ergos aren’t any more extreme than the repli-racers.
“there will always be imbecile choppers”…true, but that makes bikes coming from Cole Foster at Salinas Boys, Curt Winter at Big Twin Racers, Roland Sands, etc. look that much better.
cheers….This direction is tremendous. Big torque down low !
keith says
I love the design. I agree that the class of riders that rides this style is different than the chopper crowd. thats half the reason I like it better =)
Alex Perryman says
Very nice, I love it. Although I think I would change where the exhaust ends, because it looks like it is pointing right at the footpeg, that could get warm. I am definately looking foward to seeing this take off, very cool.
aaron says
nice! but the rooke bike impresses me too. I was sent pictures a while ago of it, and thought “great – too bad he didn’t bother designing another frame for it.” the kali cruiser theme shows up enough that it sometimes makes me wonder if he’s running out of ideas.
but this is news to me – that ktm was for a discovery channel biker build off? doing it with a liquid cooled or non american engine takes balls, but doing it with a non american, wide angle, water-cooled, screaming high rev engine that isn’t all that pretty? wow. next up I say give him a 3 cyl motor and let him rip.
hoyt says
the Bimota-style use of (billet?) aluminum at the rear axle bracket & 2 spots on the lower portion of the frame is cool.
aaron says
while this bike seems to be bore sporting in nature, I couldn’t say it’s any more practical than the viagra theme chopper, or whatever drivel just rolled out of OCC. I mean, at least most choppers have a headlight/taillight/signals, a speedo/tach, and treaded tires!
I’m guessing this thing probably doesn’t have an E-start, or even a charging system. while roland probably had access to a roller at the track, I wouldn’t want to try kickstarting a stalled 150hp big twin at an intersection!
also interesting – on the bikernet link, if you scroll down to the fifth or sixth news story, it’s good for a laugh.
apparently, as of 2 years ago, buell began their domination of the streetfighter segement! that explains a lot. apparently the buells are so dominant that they only need to sell a few each year in this neck of the woods to keep the hoardes of speed triples and ducati monsters (and all the fz, 599/919, z1000, MT-01, etc) in check.
mmm – speaking of the MT-01 and sport cruisers, the dealership in town just got 2 in – NICE! a little heavier than they need to be, but still….santa will hear about these come christmas. thank ghod they’re not just for the euros anymore!
hoyt says
Aaron, c’mon….don’t rain on the parade (we’re trying to keep this momentum going). Swap the slicks for michelins, insert battery, projector beam headlight under (or in) the number plate, bar-end signals & call it good.
Canada has the MT-01 ? damn.
Victory – you seem to be the best OEM at watching the custom scene as evidenced by your new models (Hammer, 8-Ball, Jackpot)*.
When can we expect that killer cafe with a big twin?
*very nice bikes by the way. If you follow through with a sport custom with the same level of quality, we can expect a good bike. Just don’t make it as big as the MT-01….and shrink the drivetrain.
hoyt says
one other thing for Victory….a good overall size to target for a sport/cafe big twin is Moto Guzzi’s V11 Sport Naked. One of the original big twin sportbikes.
Dodgy says
I want Roland to build me one, using this engine
Tom says
^^^ Holy Moses!! 5 liter!! Harley just got OWN3D 😀 Whats wrong with the Busa V-8 ? That would be a outrageous powerplant to have in some spacey looking CF rocket/criuser.
chris says
I’d like to see sands make a trike, lol. I could picture him going down the street in trike with a hayabusa engine in it, huge exuast and real thick tires, If he can make that it would be sick! I love his bikes already but “sports chopper trike!”. I might be taking things to fast here. People still need to get used to the style of sports choppers. Sands keep going. OH MY GOD! what if he made a reg. sports chopper with a hayabusa engine in it! That would be freakin sweet, c’mon people that would be awsome
hoyt says
wait ’til Suzuki brings back the in-line 6 (Suzuki Stratosphere). Then, we will see the v12.
A modern version of this:
http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/features/v12_custom_kawasaki_2300cc/
Tom says
I rode a Buell Firebolt 12 a few months ago. Having roadraced Japanese fours since the late 1970s Erik Buells’ latest sport/fighter was a shattering revelation! Then I saw the Sands vs. Rooke contest and it vindicated everything Buell has been doing for the past quarter century.
The traditonal long&low chop is never gonna die but these monster motor
Buell-Vincent-Yamaha MT-01 type corner carvers are welcome on my backroads seven days a week!!!
Wonder what a 50mm Marzocchi fork from an MV Agusta with Ohlins piggyback shocks with a pair of Pirelli Diablos around that big S&S mill can do at Grattan Michigan or Road America will do….
Damian says
Does anyone know whole currently owns this bike? I am very interested in talking with them. Please contact me or pass this information on to them. Thanks
Dennis says
omg… i want the bike man!!!
its seriously the best… just change the red into black and its my dream bike…
could you just send me an copy of this one ?
just for free.. wel probebly not..but i can try.. 🙂